International pop star Maala performs in Mumbai, says would love a Bollywood collaboration

Jun 20, 2017, 11:55 IST
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The Hitlist Team

New Zealand's best solo artist of 2016, the mysterious singer songwriter who goes by the name of Maala is pleasantly surprised to discover he has a huge fan base in India, as well

New Zealand's best solo artist of 2016, the mysterious singer songwriter who goes by the name of Maala is pleasantly surprised to discover he has a huge fan base in India, as well. A few hours before his performance in the city on Thursday, 22-year old Evan Sinton talks about his journey from an accounting student to an international sensation.

“I've been playing the piano since I was 4 but releasing an album had always been a dream I thought would never see light. It all happened so quickly- the exposure being a runner up in New Zealand's Got Talent gave me has been a huge stepping stone.”

When quizzed about the origin of his stage name Maala, he laughs "I wish I had a more interesting answer but Maala is just a visually appealing word I picked randomly. The songs I was writing didn't feel like Evan anymore, I needed a new identity. It has helped me connect with the audience which is my greatest goal; I want my music to be a reflection of me.”

Calling himself stupidly ambitious, he says he'd like to win a Grammy some day. “Human dynamics are my biggest inspiration, but I don't wait for inspiration to hit me anymore. I used to romanticize writing but now I've matured, to make my lyrics more concrete I write everyday.”

“I'm definitely coming to India again- I love it here- the weather, the people, the vibe. The vintage open spaces are something I haven't seen anywhere else. I want to watch a Bollywood movie but don't know where to start- there are so many! Collaborating with a Bollywood singer would be amazing, as long as I'm not required to dance. Bangalorewas great and I'm excited for Delhi, but tonight's performance in Mumbai is what I'm nervous about -I'll be debuting a new song tonight. It's a single called Crazy, something I hope the audience will be.”

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